£160 million added to Cancer Drugs Fund

Helping more patients benefit from life-saving drugs.

There are few things more distressing than being diagnosed with cancer – and it’s vital that as many patients as possible have access to the latest, best drugs. Because the Government has taken difficult decisions to cut inefficient, wasteful spending elsewhere, they are now in a position to spend more in this most important of areas.

So this week it was announcing that a further £160 million is going into the Cancer Drugs Fund – a Government backed fund which is used to buy the best pioneering, life enhancing medication on the market. All of this contributes to the goal of making Britain the best place in Europe to survive cancer.

Since 2011 the Cancer Drugs Fund has given new hope to thousands of people suffering from painful, difficult types of cancer. This extension of funding - which is only possible because of a long-term economic plan and careful management of the nation’s finances - will bring that hope to many more.

Comments

Jim said…
Government minsters must be on one heck of a salary. Not so long ago they were going to chip in and pay for a high speed rail line, and still it seems they cut back on their bacon sandwiches or something and are now using a fund they all decided to chip in and back to buy cancer drugs. They must have ate.
Some pile of bacon sandwiches.

Unless of course its not a government backed fund, but a tax payer backed fund, one in which the tax payer was never asked "will you pay to back this". If that is the case then that is why it is possible, because the taxpayer was forced to cough up under threat of prision for something they were not asked about. Not because of some long term economic plan dreamt up by a couple of people who sat on some green benches for a couple of hours.
6:56 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
Come on, Jim, the first time you wrote something like this you had a fair point, because the wording I had used could have sounded as though ministers were putting their own money into the project concerned and it is fair to point out that all government money comes from the taxpayer.

This time the post left no room for doubt that we are talking about public money.

There are many aspects of public spnding which significant numbers of people might object to paying tax for - anything which could be seen as propaganda, MPs' expenses, contributions to the EU to give three obvious examples.

But I really don't think too many people object to that part of their taxes which goes to provide medicines for people suffering from cancer. Not least because any of us, or a member of any of our families, might be the next person to need the Cancer Drugs Fund.
7:54 am
Jim said…
You seem to be missing the points here Chris.

Firstly, but not really so important is you did say "£160 million is going into the Cancer Drugs Fund – a Government backed fund" I was simply pointing out that nothing is government funded or government backed, its taxpayer funded or taxpayer backed.

the second, more important, Point. Now for what its worth I dont think too many people would disagree with funding this either, but the point remains we cant be sure of that until they have been asked. Its like not many people would refuse to allow someone to make a phone call to children in need which will cost £1, all of it going to the charity. But, the children in need campaign are all to careful to stress Obtain permission from the bill payer before you phone. The principle is the same however you look at it, Just because you and I both think not too many people would object, its no excuse for not asking.
5:10 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
The Harrogate agenda which you have referred to, and involves giving people more say, has a lot going for it. I would like to see Britain move in that direction.

But at the moment we are not there, and I think most people would welcome the decision to put more money - and yes, it is taxpayers' money - into the Cancer Drugs Fund.
4:15 pm
Jim said…
Harrogate: we were very very careful not to push it too hard too soon, so it never becomes a "fad" like "occupy wallstreet". we wanted to build it up slowly, took most of our direction from the chartists to be honest. Build it up little by little educating all the time to ask why? We are not under any illusions the demands will be met next week, but, we will continue to argue for them everytime a politician breaks them. Not really for the benefit of the politician, but for the benefit of other readers who "never really thought about that bit"
8:42 pm
Chris Whiteside said…
Probably wise.
11:00 pm
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